Bradley rallies to top Illinois-Chicago

November 15, 2008|By Neil Milbert, Tribune reporter

PEORIA — Bradley avenged a nine-point loss in last season's opening game at Illinois-Chicago, rallying in the second half to beat the Flames 67-61 Friday night at Carver Arena in the season opener for both teams.

Attacking the basket incessantly was the key to the Braves' comeback, which enabled them to overcome 17.6 percent shooting from the field in the first half.

Bradley's Dodie Dunson, who began his college career at Iowa State, was the game's high scorer with a career-high 22 points, and nearly half came late in the game. Theron Wilson contributed 12 points and 13 rebounds, Sam Maniscalco added 14 points and Chris Roberts had 10 for the winners from the Missouri Valley Conference.

Robert Kreps led UIC with 24 points, while Scott VanderMeer had 15 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

In the opening 10 minutes Illinois-Chicago was 4-for-15 from the field and Bradley 1-for-7. Foul-prone UIC sent the Braves to the free throw line seven times during that span, and they converted five of their opportunities. But Bradley turned the ball over seven times, and midway through the half the score was tied 10-10.

Then Kreps started connecting. The sophomore guard hit a three-point shot and three of four free throws, enabling the Flames to take leads of 18-12 and 21-15. Coach Jimmy Collins' team from the Horizon League stayed in control for the remainder of the half, extending its lead to 12 points before Bradley scored four straight points to reduce its deficit to 28-20 at the break.

Bradley ended the half with only three baskets in 17 attempts from the field. Bradley's only two-point field goal of the half was Maniscalco's with 1 minute 45 seconds remaining and his foot on the three-point line.

The Braves finally emerged from their shooting slump early in the second half to take a 37-36 lead on a pair of free throws by Sam Singh with 12:16 to play. The Flames never regained the lead.